POTENTIAL STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

The following is a list of potential involvements of school, college and university students in the ‘West End Memories Project: Growing Up in Vancouver’s West End’. This list is not to be exhaustive; rather it is an initial list of possible activities based upon preliminary discussions with teachers and students. Additions to this beginning inventory of involvements are welcomed. It seems that a good way to consider these activities is to see where they may fit in with student’s ongoing curricular experiences rather than as extra-curricular activities. The planners of the WEMP welcome the involvement of young people in our work and feel that it will be a very important aspect of our project.Writing. Persons who are growing up in the West End or who have grown up there are invited to write about their experiences in a wide variety of settings and themes of their choice. Stories will be considered for inclusion in an ongoing, permanent, Heritage Website that will be the principal product of the project. We have people on our committee who are willing to help in the story writing aspect of the project if such help is required.Photography. There are many photographic opportunities within the project. Photos need to be taken of many current buildings and settings in the West End so that they can be compared and contrasted with pictures from earlier times that are available from the Vancouver Archives and elsewhere. Current and archival photos will be used in the ‘Then and Now’ section of our work. Students may also wish to be involved in the archival searching that is needed.Art. Students who have major artistic interests may see possibilities within the scope of our project for an outlet of their talents. Drawings, paintings of current and former buildings and settings are some possibilities as are the design and creation of posters and other communication devices and materials.Outreach. A major feature of this project is that we wish to contact as many former West End children and youth as possible. This is not an easy task and requires ingenuity and patience. Students who are interested in computer and other searching methods may wish to assist in this process. There are literally thousands of people we have yet to reach. The outreach is a multi-faceted approach that can be quite rewarding when someone is located.Interviews. Many former West End youth do not wish to write their stories or cannot write their stories for a number of reasons. However, a lot of them are very willing to speak about their experiences. Accordingly, we intend to conduct in-person and telephone interviews with a large number of people. We have people on our Working Committee who are well versed in interview protocols and who are pleased to work with students in developing interviewing skills. This is an excellent opportunity for skill development for students and would be a great help to our project.History. The project is legitimate Family and Community History, fields that are becoming recognized more and more as significant areas of historical inquiry and research. Project planners welcome the involvement of students who may be able to include aspects of the project for major papers, independent studies, or other research endeavours. The Project Chair and others on the planning committee may be available for sponsorship of any such projects.Portfolio Opportunities. Students who become involved in the project in significant ways could look forward to the opportunity to include the work that they undertake as forming part of their personal and professional portfolio that may be required for future work and educational applications. We would also be pleased to write letters of recommendation for deserving students who contribute to the project. We see this as an exemplary form of ‘Service Learning’.And lastly, we believe that student involvement in the West End Memories Project will not only be personally rewarding, but it will also allow students to see their work become an integral part of a permanent record that will be broadly available to future generations. Please take this as a sincere invitation for students and their teachers to become involved with us in this unique and exciting community venture.